- The sanctions for human traffickers have increased to 5 and 7 years.
- The government also increases from 0.5 million rupees to RS3M and RS5M.
- The prison sentence has gone from 10 years to 14 years for a repeated offense.
Islamabad: The National Assembly has adopted three key bills, aimed at fighting human trafficking and protecting vulnerable Pakistani migrants, The news reported Tuesday.
The bills – namely the bill on the prevention of the trafficking of persons (amendment), the 2025 bill, and the bill on the prevention of migrants (modification) of the 2025 bill – were presented by the Minister of Law and the judge, Azam Nazir Tarar.
According to the federal minister, the decision comes in the midst of alarming death reports among illegal migrants in recent months.
During the announcement, he stressed that the government had engaged with various stakeholders in the past two months to refine these legislative measures, which seek to modify the 2018 law on the prevention of the trafficking of people, The 2018 law on the prevention of smuggling of migrants and the 1979 emigration order, 1979.
The proposed changes include more severe sanctions for offenders and a change of jurisdiction in trials from the magistrate courts to the session courts, guaranteeing a more opportune legal process for trafficking.
Tarar also said that the government had launched a repression against the gangs involved in human trafficking, and many culprits have been arrested.
He said that in accordance with changes, sanctions for human traffickers went from three to five years and seven years and a fine would drop from 0.5 million rupees to 3 million rupees and 5 million rupees.
In the event of rehearsal of the offense, imprisonment has increased from 10 years to 14 years, while the fine also increased from 1 million rupees to 10 million rupees as well as the confiscation of goods.
The minister regretted the attitude of the members of the opposition who opposed the bills, recorded demonstrations, underlined the lack of quorum and left the procedure during the execution of the legislation linked to serious questions.
“These bills have been adopted for a noble cause without any policy involved because surprising disclosure were made during surveys,” he said.
He revealed that to attract innocent people, they were offered packages if a family member died during a trip, another brother would be hosted for free.
“This is a serious problem on which the Prime Minister takes two meetings in one week, special committees have been trained and dozens of culprits are behind bars,” he said.
The National Assembly also adopted the 2024 Civil Courts (amendment) and Bill 2024 Pakistan Coast Guards (amendment).
The member of the opposition Yousaf Khan underlined a lack of quorum during the legislation. However, counting, the house was found in order.
The Bill 2025 of civil servants (amendment) which was presented to the Chamber was referred to the permanent committee concerned. The law of Law said that according to the legislation, BPS-17 officials at BPS-22 are required to declare their assets.
